The Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) 2025 Birmingham Major, which took place from March 27th to 30th at the bp pulse LIVE venue in Solihull, Birmingham, has experienced a significant viewership decline compared to previous events. According to Esports Charts, the event achieved an all-time peak of 287,987 spectators, a significant drop from the 435,503 all-time peak viewers achieved during the 2024 Year’s first Copenhagen Major.
This decline in viewership is compounded by other figures. The Birmingham Major notched 4.1 million watch hours and 121,687 average viewers for its 33-hour broadcast time. In comparison, the 2024 Copenhagen Major amassed 4.9 million watch hours and an average of 159,854 viewers.
The 2025 RLCS season saw a modified format, diminishing the number of global LAN events from three to two Majors and the World Championship. With the decrease in tournaments and money prizes, less involvement from both players and spectators has been seen.
Allowing all regional competitions to take place at the same time might have led to viewers being forced to choose between concurrent matches, possibly lowering total viewership.
Adjustments like reducing the minimum age of players from 15 to 13 and redistributing the prize pool have been criticized by the community, which might have affected viewer interest.
In spite of the general downturn, the Grand Final between French esports team Karmine Corp and North American team The Ultimates was the most viewed game. Karmine Corp’s games, specifically, drew 1 million watch hours, an indicator of the team’s heavy following.
Birmingham Major is ranked as the league’s eighth highest-watched tournament. The top-ranked is the 2022-23 World Championship, with the highest viewership at 468,292, followed by the 2024 Copenhagen Major.
The RLCS is getting ready for the Raleigh Major, which will take place from June 26th to 29th in North Carolina. The event will have 16 teams competing based on their regional RLCS rankings, furthering the competitive trend of the season. What are your thoughts on this event? Will it set records or will it be another failure? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.